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Mother bilked out of life savings; St. Johns couple turn themselves over to authorities

Teresa Oakes

Robert Oakes

The St. Johns County couple wanted in a scheme to bilk one of their mothers and her late husband out of their life savings turned themselves over to authorities Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Teresa Evelyn Oakes, 54, and Robert Emmett Oakes Jr., 55, both of Vaill Point Road, are charged with exploitation of the elderly or disabled and organized scheming to defraud.

They are accused of depriving Teresa Oakes' 87-year old mother of her financial assets over the past six years and continuing to exploit her once they had secured power of attorney. It amounted to about $282,000 along with another $150,000 of property value, the Sheriff's Office said.

The 87-year-old and her late husband had been convinced to move to Florida and jointly purchase a home with the Oakes with a guest house, the arrest documents said. They were also convinced to withhold their names from the deed to avoid probate, open a joint account and cash out their investments to entrust the funds with her daughter and son-in-law.

They were unaware the funds were being deposited in the Oakes' personal bank accounts and being used for their personal gain.

Following her husband's death, the victim told the suspects she wanted to do her own banking but was refused and even served an eviction notice, the Sheriff's Office said. She then learned that she was left with no savings and $115 in her checking account.

Mother bilked out of life savings; St. Johns couple turn themselves over to authorities- By